Money Hungry

“Some people think I would do anything for money. They’re wrong. I wouldn’t do nothing bad. Nothing that would hurt people, like selling dope, or shoplifting. But when you always trying to think of ways to make a dollar, like I do, folks bound to think the worst.” 

This line is in the first paragraph of the text. These lines articulate the centrality of money to the text (Raspberry introduces her love of money before she even says her name). This quote also introduces some of Raspberry’s important character traits. Raspberry positions herself as self-aware: She understands that her money-hungry ways cause others to make assumptions about her, and yet Raspberry outlines her moral compass in these lines as well. She is sure to note that while she is motivated by money, she has standards for how she comes about her cash.

“No wonder everybody thinks that my money-hungry ways will get me into more trouble than I can handle. Shoot, even my girls think that. Momma too.” 

This quote foreshadows the relationship conflicts that are central to the text. Raspberry strains her relationships with her friends by almost stealing money from Ja’nae and then repeatedly demanding that she pay it back. Her obsession with money also negatively affects her relationship with Momma and ultimately causes Momma to throw away most of her money in a fit of anger. Raspberry is entrepreneurial, creative, and clever, but her money-hungry ways get her in trouble with those she cares about most.